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Progress report on Afghanistan

The purpose of the German Government’s progress reports is to provide information to the German Bundestag. They describe the current situation in the country, outline the international engagement and provide an overview of forthcoming events. Germany is and will remain one of Afghanistan’s most important partners.

At a demonstration in Kabul

2014: A turning point in Afghanistan’s history

2014 was an eventful year for Afghanistan, dominated by the presidential elections. For the first time, presidential elections laid the groundwork for Afghanistan to take on full responsibility for a peaceful and democratic change of leadership.

Since 29 September 2014, Afghanistan has had a new President in Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and a new Chief Executive Officer in Abdullah Abdullah – together they have formed a government of national unity. This handover of power is historic, with it, Afghanistan has taken important steps in its democratic development in recent months.

On 19 November 2014, the The German Government's Progress Report on Afghanistan (PDF, 1 MB) was published, this time including an assessment of the engagement in Afghanistan since 2001. The 2014 Progress Report covers, as has been the practice since 2010, the developments in Afghanistan in the current year – this time up to autumn 2014. The report is divided, in line with the previous template, into the three key priorities of the international engagement in Afghanistan: governance, security and development. As stated in the 2014 Progress Report, this Progress Report will be the last of its kind.

In this Progress Report, Michael Koch, Special Representative of the Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan, gives an assessment of the engagement in Afghanistan. This assessment also contains some lessons to be learnt from the engagement.

Afghan police checking a car and its occupants in Kabul

Support enters a new phase

Due to the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission coming to an end, 2014 is seen by Germany and the international community as a turning point for engagement in Afghanistan. However, the engagement is by no means ending, rather it is entering a new phase of a less military nature. In the overall picture, one thing is clear for the German Government: we have achieved a great deal but we are still far from reaching our goal.

Members of the Afghan police force receive training on how to deal with domestic violence

The international community has stated its readiness to continue to assist the Afghan security forces after 2014 by providing training, advice and support within the framework of NATO’s Resolute Support mission. Germany is willing to shoulder responsibility in this regard and to support advisory and training work. However, this still has to be approved by the German Bundestag. The international community will remain involved in civilian reconstruction and Afghanistan’s development even after 2014. Germany will continue to provide up to 430 million euros each year for this until at least 2016.

Assistance still subject to conditions

The international assistance remains tied to the conditions agreed upon with the Afghan Government at an international conference held in Tokyo in 2012. Afghanistan has made progress in meeting its commitments, however not all were fulfilled.

The peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan has not yet led to a serious dialogue between the Afghan Government and the Taliban.

The German Government remains convinced that only a political dialogue process can bring durable peace to Afghanistan.